Power generation device, fuel package, and remaining fuel amount measuring device

ABSTRACT

A fuel package includes a vessel wherein the interior space is separated, and has a flow-out opening and a flow-in opening that lead to the interior space, a liquid fuel filled in the region at the side of the flow-out opening in the vessel, and a follower that separates the liquid fuel and the region at the side of the flow-in opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/951,859 filed Sep. 27, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,722,976which is based on Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2003-332979 and2003-332990 both filed on Sep. 25, 2003, the disclosures of the abovePatent Applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fuel package that stores liquid fuel,a power generation device that comprises the fuel package and a powergeneration module that generates electric energy by the chemicalreaction of the liquid fuel supplied from the fuel package, and aremaining fuel amount measuring device which measures the remainingamount of liquid fuel left in a vessel which stores liquid fuel storedand supplies the fuel to the power generation module.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, compact electronics device, such as a portabletelephone, a laptop computer, a digital camera, a wrist watch, a PDA(Personal Digital Assistance), and an electronic organizer, etc., areremarkably progressing and developing.

As the power source for the above compact electronics device, primarybattery such as an alkaline battery and a manganese dry battery, and/orsecondary battery such as a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydrogenbattery, or a lithium-ion battery, are used. However, looking from theaspect of the usage efficiency of energy, energy is not always usedefficiently in primary batteries and secondary batteries. On the otherhand, fuel cells directly derives electric energy from chemical energyby electrochemically reacting fuel in the cell and the oxygen in theatmosphere, and are positioned as batteries that have good prospects forthe future.

Therefore, in recent years, to replace the primary batteries andsecondary batteries, research and development of the fuel cells withhigh usage efficiency of energy, is being carried out.

Because the compact electronics device such as above, are small, theyare used in various directions and positions, in accordance with thescene used by the user. For example, a laptop computer is carriedaround, being held under one's arm, a portable telephone is carriedaround in a state where it is stored without much care in a pocket or abag, and in some cases, people talk on the portable telephone, tiltingthe body of the portable telephone. Because the portable telephoneconstantly receives electric waves, it consumes electric power even at astand-by-state. Therefore, in a case where a fuel cell is applied as apower source for these kind of electronic devices, it is preferable thatfuel is stably supplied to the fuel cell even when the fuel cell or thefuel vessel that supplies fuel to the fuel cell is tilted as well as itis not tilted.

The fuel cell disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAIPublication No. 2001-93551, comprises a fuel cell main body wherein aproton transmitting plate is interleaved between a fuel electrode and anoxygen electrode, and a fuel vessel that stores liquid fuel, and isconnected to the fuel cell main body. Pores are formed at the fuelvessel. Penetrating material is placed in the fuel vessel. Thepenetrating material extends from the fuel vessel to a connecting unitof the fuel cell main body. The liquid fuel in the fuel vesselpenetrates to the connecting unit through the penetrating material, theliquid fuel that penetrated to the connecting unit is supplied to thefuel cell main body by capillary force, and electric energy is derivedin the fuel cell main body. Even if the liquid fuel is consumed, becausepores are formed at the vessel, the pressure balance between the fuelvessel and outside is maintained. If the fuel vessel becomes empty, itcan be changed to a new one.

In a case where the fuel cell disclosed in Unexamined Japanese PatentApplication KOKAI Publication No. 2001-93551 is placed in the portablecompact electronics device, because the electronics device is used invarious positions and directions (inclination), the fuel vessel alsobecomes various positions and directions (inclination). Therefore,according to the position/direction (inclination) of the fuel vessel, orthe remaining amount of the liquid fuel, there are cases where theliquid fuel does not contact the penetrating member, and there is apossibility that even if the fuel vessel is not empty, supply of theliquid fuel to the fuel cell stops. Because the liquid fuel thatpenetrates to the penetrating material is retained in the penetratingmaterial, by capillary force, there is a case where in the process ofthe liquid fuel being consumed, at the time that the capillary forcethat operates to the penetrating material, and the capillary force thatoperates at the side of the fuel cell main body match, liquid fuel isnot supplied from the penetrating material to the fuel cell main body.Therefore, there is a fear that liquid fuel is left in the liquid fuelvessel.

Further, because the liquid fuel is supplied to the fuel cell main bodyby capillary force, there are cases where it takes a long time from thetime that the fuel vessel is connected to the fuel cell main body, tillthe time the liquid fuel reaches the fuel cell main body.

Also, because the electronics device and the fuel vessel is used invarious positions and directions, the liquid fuel in the fuel vesselflows to various position in accordance with the position of the fuelvessel. Therefore, it is difficult to quantitatively measure theremaining amount of fuel in the fuel vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a power generationdevice, a fuel package, and a power generation module, which can stablysupply the stored liquid fuel without remaining.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a remainingfuel amount measuring device that can measure the reaming amount ofstored liquid fuel, in any.

A power generation device according to a first aspect of the presentinvention, comprises

a fuel package that includes:

-   -   a vessel wherein the interior space is separated, and has a        flow-out opening and a flow-in opening that lead to the interior        space;    -   a liquid fuel filled in a region at the side of the flow-out        opening in the vessel; and    -   a follower that separates the liquid fuel and the region at the        side of the flow-in opening, and

a power generation module that includes a suction opening that is freelyconnected to the flow-out opening of the fuel package, and a firstexhaust opening that is freely connected to the flow-in opening of thefuel package, generates electric energy based on the liquid fuelsupplied from the fuel package, and exhausts a part of the productgenerated from the liquid fuel by chemical reaction, from the fistexhaust opening.

A fuel package according to a second aspect of the present invention,comprises:

a vessel wherein the interior space is separated, and includes aflow-out opening and a flow-in opening that leads to the interior space;

a liquid fuel filled in a region at the side of the flow-out opening inthe vessel; and

a follower that separates the liquid fuel and the region at the side ofthe flow-in opening.

According to the above inventions, a flow-in opening is provided so thatfluid (such as gas and liquid) can flow into, to prevent the pressure inthe interior space from decreasing, in accordance with the liquid fueldecreasing when the liquid fuel stored in the fuel package flows outfrom the flow-out opening, the pressure in the interior space can bekept equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, in spite of theliquid fuel flowing out. Therefore, the follower easily follows theback-end of the liquid fuel and, it is difficult to vacant space betweenthe flow-out opening and the follower, especially, between the flow-outopening and the liquid fuel and between the liquid fuel and thefollower. Therefore, even position, direction, inclination of thegenerating device and/or the fuel package are changed, the flow-outopening is filled with the liquid fuel. Therefore, this fuel package cansupply the liquid fuel stably.

A remaining fuel amount measuring device which measures the remainingamount of a liquid fuel, comprises a sensor which detects thedisplacement of a follower that separates the end of the liquid fuel, inthe liquid chamber that has the liquid fuel filled, so that is covered,and follows the end of the liquid fuel.

According to the present invention, because the follower follows thechange of position of the end of the liquid fuel by the consumption ofliquid fuel, the remaining amount of liquid fuel can be measured by thesensor detecting the displacement of the follower by the transfer.Because this operation is due to the surface tension of the follower,the remaining amount of the liquid fuel can be measured from theposition of the follower, in spite of the direction that the end of theliquid fuel faces, i.e., in spite of the position of the vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the present invention will become more apparent uponreading of the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of a powergeneration device;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of another powergeneration device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a fuel package;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the fuel package decomposed;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the fuel package being cut in thedirection of arrows, in accordance with the broken lines V-V shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the fuel package being cut in thedirection of arrows, in accordance with the broken lines VI-VI shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view showing a part of FIG. 6 enlarged;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view showing the region (III) in FIG. 5enlarged.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a check valve;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the check valve shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the check valve shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a cross-section view showing the check valve shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a front lid member;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view showing the region (XIV) in FIG. 5enlarged;

FIG. 15 is a cross-section view showing the region (XV) in FIG. 5enlarged;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a communicating interface;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the communicating interface in astate where one fuel package is attached to a power generation module;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the communicating interface in astate where two fuel packages are attached to the power generationmodule;

FIG. 19 is a transverse sectional view for describing operation of aremaining fuel amount measuring device according to the fuel that flowsout;

FIG. 20 is a transverse sectional view for describing operation of theremaining fuel amount measuring device according to the fuel that flowsout;

FIG. 21 is a transverse sectional view for describing operation of theremaining fuel amount measuring device according to the fuel that flowsout;

FIG. 22 is a transverse sectional view for describing operation of theremaining fuel amount measuring device according to the fuel that flowsout;

FIG. 23 is a transverse sectional view for describing operation of theremaining fuel amount measuring device according to the fuel that flowsout; and

FIG. 24 is a transverse sectional view for describing operation of theremaining fuel amount measuring device according to the fuel that flowsout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a fuel reforming type power generationdevice having a remaining fuel amount measuring device, and FIG. 2 is ablock diagram of a direct fuel power generation device. The presentinvention can be applied to either power generation device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 both power generation devices comprise a fuelpackage 1 shown in FIG. 5 for storing a liquid fuel 99, and a powergeneration module 91 which generates electric energy from the liquidfuel 99 stored in the fuel package 1. The fuel package 1 is freelyattachable/detachable to/from the power generation module 91. Here,freely attachable/detachable to/from the power generation module 91,means that the flow passages in the fuel package 1 and the powergeneration module 91 that introduce the liquid fuel 99 from the fuelpackage 1 to the power generation module 91 are freelyconnected/disconnected physically. The power generation devices furthercomprise a connecting interface for detachably connecting the fuelpackage 1 to the power generation module 91, and a remaining fuel amountmeasuring device for measuring the remaining amount of liquid fuel 99left in the fuel package 1.

The liquid fuel 99 is a compound of liquid chemical fuel and water. Asthe chemical fuel, compounds including hydrogen atoms such as alcoholsuch as methanol and ethanol, etc., and diethyl ether and gasoline maybe used. In the present embodiment, compound methanol and water is usedas the liquid fuel 99.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the fuel reforming power generation device, thepower generation module 91 comprises a vaporizer 92, a reformer 93, acarbon monoxide remover 94, a fuel cell 95, and a pump 80. Each of thevaporizer 92, the reformer 93 and the carbon monoxide remover 94 is asmall chemical reactor called a micro reactor. In the interior of eachmicro reactor, a flow passage through which a liquid fuel 99 or areformed fuel, and a heater for generating heat for promoting chemicalreaction in the flow passage, are formed.

Each of the vaporizer 92, the reformer 93, and the carbon monoxideremover 94 has two or more substrates laminated with each other or puttogether. The substrates has the flow passage formed by a groove coveredby opposing substrates. The flow passage or groove has both the depthand the width of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm.

The liquid fuel 99 stored in the fuel package 1 is supplied to thevaporizer 92 by the pump 80. In the vaporizer 92, the heater heats thesupplied liquid fuel 99 to vaporize it and generate a mixture gas ofmethanol and water vapor, i.e. gasous fuel. The mixture gas generated inthe vaporizer 92 is supplied to the reformer 93. In the fuel package 1,methanol and water may be stored separately. In this case, an exhaustopenings which separately exhaust necessary amounts of methanol andwater, are necessary in the fuel package 1.

The reformer 93 generates hydrogen and carbon dioxide from the mixturegas supplied from the vaporizer 92. More specifically, as shown inchemical formula (1), methanol and water vapor in the mixture gas reactby catalyst, and carbon dioxide and hydrogen are generated.CH₃OH+H₂O→3H₂+CO₂  (1)

In the reformer 93, there is a case where mixture gas of methanol andwater vapor is not completely reformed to carbon dioxide and hydrogen.In this case, as shown in chemical formula (2), methanol and water vaporreact, and carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are generated.2CH₃OH+H₂O 5H₂+CO+CO₂  (2)

The gases generated in the reformer 93 are supplied to the carbonmonoxide remover 94.

The carbon monoxide remover 94 removes carbon monoxide from the mixturegas supplied from the reformer 93, by selectively oxidizing the carbonmonoxide included in the mixture gas. More specifically, the carbonmonoxide included in the mixture gas supplied from the reformer 93, andthe oxygen taken in from the atmosphere reacts by catalyst, and carbondioxide is generated.2CO+O₂ 2CO₂  (3)

The mixture gas that includes hydrogen, is supplied to a fuel electrodeof the fuel cell 95 from the carbon monoxide remover 94.

The fuel electrode of the fuel cell 95, as shown in electrochemicalreaction formula (4), separates hydrogen included in the mixture gassupplied from the carbon monoxide remover 94 into hydrogen ions andelectrons by the influence of the catalyst of the fuel electrode. Thehydrogen ion reaches at an air electrode via an ion conductive(permeable) film, and the electrons removed from the hydrogen are takenby the fuel electrode.H₂→2H⁺+2e⁻  (4)

Air is introduced and supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell 95.Then, as shown in electrochemical reaction formula (5), the oxygen inthe air, the hydrogen ions that passed the ion conductive film, and theremoved electrons react, and water is generated as a by-product.2H⁺1/2O₂+2e⁻→H₂O  (5)

As the above, by the electrochemical reaction shown in the above (4) and(5), occurring in the fuel cell 95, electrical energy is generated. Amixture gas of water, carbon dioxide, and air, etc., as the generatedby-product is exhausted to the fuel package 1.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the direct fuel powergeneration device, the power generation module 91 comprises the pump 80and the fuel cell 97.

The liquid fuel 99 supplied to the pump 80 from the fuel package 1 isintroduced to the pump 80, and is supplied to the fuel electrode of thefuel cell 97.

At the fuel electrode of the fuel cell 97, as shown in electrochemicalreaction formula (6), the liquid fuel supplied from the pump 80 isseparated into hydrogen ions and electrons, by the influence of thecatalyst of the fuel electrode. The hydrogen ions reaches at an airelectrode via an ion conductive (permeable) film, and the electron isremoved by the fuel electrode.CH₃OH+H₂O→CO₂+6H⁺6e⁻  (6)

Air is introduced and supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell 97.Then, as shown in electrochemical reaction formula (7), the oxygen inthe air, the hydrogen ions that passed the ion conductive film, and theremoved electrons react, and water is generated as a by-product.6H⁺3/2O₂+6e⁻→3H₂O  (7)

As the above, by the electrochemical reactions shown in formulas (6) and(7) occurring in the fuel cell 97, electronic energy is generated. Amixture gas including as water, carbon dioxide, and air, etc., areexhausted to the fuel package 1. Methanol that does not react in thefuel cell 97 may be circulated so that it is introduced to the pump 80and re-supplied to the fuel cell 97 again.

In a case where this power generation device is applied to anelectronics device represented by for example, a laptop computer, adigital camera, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), and an electronicorganizer, etc., the power generation module 91 is fixed to theelectronic device body, so that the fuel package 1 can be freelyattached to/detached from the electronics device body, and theelectronics device operates by using the electronic energy generated inthe power generation module 91. It is preferable that a charging unitwhich charges the electronic energy generated in the fuel cell 95 or thefuel cell 97, and outputs the energy to the electronics device, isprovided in the power generation module 91 or in the electronics device,so that the electronic energy that generated in the power generationmodule 91 can be output in accordance with the request from theelectronics device. In a case where the amount of energy charged in thecharging unit decreases by output the energy to the electronics deviceor consumption in the interior, the charging unit outputs a controlsignal so that the control circuit in the power generation module 91operates the pump 80 to supply the liquid fuel 99 to the vaporizer 92 orthe fuel cell 97, so as to generate the compensating amount ofelectronic energy.

Next, the fuel package 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to7.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the fuel package 1, FIG. 4 is anexploded perspective view of the fuel package 1, FIG. 5 is anapproximate cross-sectional view when the fuel package 1 is cut in aplane surface direction, FIG. 6 is an approximate cross-section viewwhen the fuel package 1 is cut in a thickness direction, and FIG. 7 is across-sectional view showing the cross-section of the tip of the fuelpackage 1 in FIG. 6.

The fuel package 1 comprises a cylinder vessel 2 that has the liquidfuel 99 filled. The fuel package 1 has various members being attached tothe cylinder vessel 2. The cylinder vessel 2 comprises a vessel mainbody 3 that has an interior space and has an exterior shape ofapproximately rectangular plate, a front lid member 4 attached to thefront end portion of the vessel main body 3, and a back lid member 5attached to the back end portion of the vessel main body 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the interior space of the vessel main body 3 isseparated to a plurality of chambers (liquid chamber) 31,31 . . . (fiveliquid chambers 31 in the drawing) that are long in the front-backdirection (the longitudinal direction of the vessel 2), and onepressurized flow passage 32 that is long in the front-back direction.More specifically, a plurality of bulkheads (partitions) 33 that extendto the front-back direction are formed at the interior of the vesselmain body 3, so as to separate the adjoining liquid chambers 31, 31, . .. , and the liquid chamber 31 and the pressurized flow passage 32. Inother words, the bulkheads separates the interior space and form liquidchamber 31, 31, . . . , and the pressurized flow passage 32. Thebulkheads 33 are arranged parallel to each other and separated at apredetermined distance from each other, the plurality of liquid chambers31, 31, . . . , and the pressurized flow passage 32 are arranged inparallel with each other, in the interior space of the vessel main body3. The length in the front-back direction of the bulkheads 31, 31, . . ., is a little shorter than the length of the circumference of the vesselmain body 3, and each back end of the bulkheads 33, 33, . . . , isplaced somewhat more to a front end surface 37 side than a back endportion 40 of the vessel main body 3. As shown in FIG. 4, at back endportions 33 a, 33 a, . . . of the bulkheads 33, an opening 36 that opensthe back ends of the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . , and the back end ofthe pressurized flow passage 32, are formed. If there are a plurality ofliquid chambers 31, 31, . . . , the number is not limited to five, andmay be equal to or more than five, or equal to or less than five.

The length in the front-back direction of the liquid chambers 31, 31, .. . , are all equal with each other. Also, the cross-sectional areas ofthe interior space of the plurality of the liquid chamber 31, 31, . . ., when each liquid chamber 31 is cut at a plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction thereof, is constant from the side of the frontend surface 37 to the side of the back end portion 40. Further, eachliquid chamber 31,31, . . . has an approximately tubular or cylindricalshape. To measure the remaining amount of liquid fuel 99 with theremaining fuel amount measuring device, the cross-sections of the liquidchambers 31, 31, . . . when being cut at a plane perpendicular in thelongitudinal direction, is one of the following (A), (B), or (C).

(A): The volumes of all the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . are equal witheach other or the cross-section areas of the interior space of the allthe chambers 31, 31, . . . are equal with each other.

(B): At least one of the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . has a largercross-section area of the interior space, when the liquid chamber 31 iscut at a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, thanthose of any other chambers 31, therefore, the volume of the at leastone liquid chamber 31 is larger than those of the other liquid chambers31.

(C): At least one of the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . has a smallercross-section area of the interior space, when the liquid chamber 31 iscut at a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, thanthose of any other chambers 31, therefore, the volume of the one liquidchamber 31 is smaller than those of the other liquid chambers 31.

Concerning (B) and (C), there are cases where for example, the liquidchamber 31 placed at the most right side in FIGS. 3 and 4 (the upperside in FIGS. 22 and 24), has the largest cross-section area, thereforethe volume in the chamber 31 is the largest, and going leftwards (thelower side in FIGS. 22 and 24), the cross-section area of the liquidchambers 31, consequently the volume in the liquid chambers 31 becomesmaller, and the chamber 31 placed at the most left side has thesmallest cross-section area, therefore the volume in the chamber 31 isthe smallest (the case shown in FIGS. 22 to 24), or the liquid chamber31 placed at the most left side (the upper side in FIGS. 22 and 24), hasthe largest cross-section area, therefore the volume in the chamber 31is the largest, and going rightwards (the upper side in FIGS. 22 and24), the cross-section area of the liquid chambers 31, consequently thevolume in the liquid chambers 31 become smaller, and the chamber 31placed at the most right side has the smallest cross-section area,therefore the volume in the chamber 31 is the smallest.

At the back end portion 40 of the vessel main body 3, the back lidmember 5 that covers the back end portion 30 a predetermined distanceaway from the liquid members 31, 31, . . . and the pressurized flowpassage 32 is attached. As shown in FIG. 4, the back lid member 5comprises a covering section 51 and a connecting section 52. Thecovering section 51 is for separating the space at the back end side ofthe vessel main body 3, and is formed at the same shape and size as theperipheral surface of the back end portion 40 of the vessel main body 3.The connecting section 52 is a lid which the back end side is covered bythe covering section 51, that has a front end portion 57 closed. Theconnecting section 52 is inserted to the inner walls of the back endportion 40 of the vessel main body from the front end portion 57, andconnects with the vessel main body 3, to form a closed space 38 at theopening 36 of the vessel main body.

More specifically, a seal member 53 made of flexible material such asrubber, etc., is fit to the outer rim of the connecting section (fittingsection) 52 of the back lid member 5. the seal member 53 is connected toor abutted to the covering section 51. Further, the connecting section52 is inserted from the back end surface of the vessel main body 3 so asto connect or abut the seal member 53 to the back end portion 40, sothat the back lid member 5 fits into the opening 36. By supporting theseal member 53 in this way, the space or gap between the vessel mainbody 3 and the lid member 5 is filled, the cylinder vessel 2 is sealed.Therefore, the fuel 99 in the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . , leakingfrom between the vessel main body 3 and the lid member 4 is prevented.

By the back lid member 5 being attached to the back end surface of thevessel main body 3, the opening 36 is covered by the covering section 51of the back lid member 5, and as shown in FIG. 5, a pressure adjustmentchamber 38 is formed at the opening 36. Because both the liquid chambers31, 31, . . . , and the pressurized flow passage 32 are open at theopening 36, it becomes possible that the fluid that flows into thepressurized flow passage 32 flows out to the liquid chambers 31, 31, . .. , via the pressure adjustment chamber 38.

At the covering section 51 of the back lid member 5, an exhaust opening54 that leads from the pressure adjustment chamber 38 to the outside, isformed. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a peripheral region (VIII) of theexhaust opening 54 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 8, a tubularportion 55 that forms the exhaust opening 54, is formed at the coveringsection 51 so that it protrudes towards the interior of the pressureadjustment chamber 38. A second check valve 6, which irreversibly allowsthe flow of a fluid only to a direction towards the outside, from thepressure adjustment chamber 38, via the exhaust opening 54, is fit tothe exhaust opening 54. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the second checkvalve 6 is a duckbill valve formed in a duckbill-shape (the shape of thebill of the duck) formed of material that has flexibility and elasticity(for example, elastomer (rubber)). Here, FIGS. 8 and 9 are side views ofthe check valve 6, in a case where it is seen from the same direction,FIG. 10 is a front view of the second check valve 6, FIG. 11 is an uppersurface view of the second check valve 6, and FIG. 12 is across-sectional view cutting the second check valve 6 in a longitudinaldirection.

Describing in detail, the second check valve 6 comprises a main bodypart 6 a that has a tubular shape, an upper lip part 6 a and a lower lippart that are integrally formed at the tip end side of the main bodypart 6 a, and are stacked one above the other, and a ring-shaped flangepart 6 d that is integrally formed at the back end portion of the mainbody part 6 a, and is formed so that it protrudes radially outwards fromthe outer wall of the main body part 6 a. At the back end of the secondcheck valve 6, an interior hollow of the main body part 6 a is open. Bythe upper lip part 6 b and the lower lip part 6 c being formed so thatthey are stacked one above the other, at the end tip of the second checkvalve 6, the interior hollow is closed at the tip end of the secondcheck valve 6, and a horizontally long interstice 6 e defined by theupper lip part 6 b and the lower lip part 6 c is formed at the tip endof the second check valve 6. The interstice 6 e leads to the interiorhollow. The upper lip part 6 b and the lower lip part 6 c are formed ina tapered shape so that the entire thickness T thereof, become thinneras going towards the tip end of the second check valve 6.

In the second check valve 6, in a situation where the pressure in theinterior hollow and the pressure of the outside tip end of the secondcheck valve 6 is the same, the interstice 6 e is closed, or becomes astate where the interstice 6 e is somewhat open (this kind of state iscalled the initial state). On the other hand, in a situation where thepressure in the interior hollow is higher than the pressure of theoutside tip end of the second check valve 6, the interstice 6 e openswider than the initial situation, by the upper lip part 6 b and thelower lip part 6 c elastically transforming, and flow of the fluid tothe outside tip end of the second check valve 6 from the interior hollowvia the interstice 6 e is permitted (this situation is called the opensituation). In a situation where the pressure in the interior hollow islower than the pressure of the outside tip end of the second check valve6, the interstice 6 e closes by the upper lip part 6 b and the lower lippart 6 c elastically transforming, and flow of the fluid to the interiorhollow from the outside tip of the second check valve 6 via theinterstice 6 e is prevented (this situation is called the closedsituation).

As shown in FIG. 8, this kind of second check valve 6 is attached to theback lid member 5, by setting the tip end thereof towards the outsidefrom the pressure adjustment chamber 38, fitting the upper lip part 6 b,the lower lip part 6 c, and the main body part 6 a to the exhaustopening 54, and locking the flange part 6 d to the tip of the tubularportion 55 of the inner wall of the pressure adjustment chamber 38. Thesecond check valve 6 is fixed by connecting a valve stopper 56 having ahollow tubular shape, which comprises a ring-shape flange section thatis formed so that it protrudes inwards from the inner wall thereof, tothe tubular portion 55, and further supporting the flange part 6 d ofthe second check valve 6 from both sides, with the flange section of thevalve stopper 56 and the tip of the tubular portion 55.

As shown in FIG. 4, at the front end portion of the vessel main body 3,a connecting section 39 which is thinner than the center part of thevessel main body 3, is formed protruding towards the front, and the tipsurface of the connecting section 39 forms a front end surface 37 of thevessel main body 3.

At the position of the front end surface 37 that corresponds to each ofthe liquid chambers 31, communicating holes 34 that penetrates to theliquid chambers 31, are formed. A net that has a plurality of minuteslits, may be stretched over these communicating holes 34, 34, . . . .

To measure the remaining amount of fuel 9 with the remaining fuel amountmeasuring device, the relationship between the opening area of thesecommunicating holes 34, 34, . . . , and the cross-section area of theliquid chambers 31, 31, . . . , are as below.

In a case where the cross-section areas of all the liquid chambers 31,31, . . . are equal with each other, such as the above (A), (A-1): theopening area of the communicating hole 34 that is placed at the mostright is the largest, and moving towards the left, the opening area ofthe communicating hole 34 becomes smaller, the communicating hole 34placed at the most left having the smallest opening area, or (A-2): theopening area of the communicating hole 34 that is placed at the mostleft (lower side in FIGS. 19 to 21) is the largest, and moving towardsthe right, (upper side in FIGS. 19 to 21), the opening area of thecommunicating hole 34 becomes smaller, the communicating hole 34 placedat the most right having the smallest opening area.

As the above (B) or the above (C), in a case where the cross-sectionarea of the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . differ, the opening area ofall the communicating holes 34, 34, . . . , are equal (the case shown inFIGS. 22 to 24).

At the position that corresponds to the pressurized flow passage 32 ofthe front end surface 37 of the vessel main body 3, a communicating hole35 that leads to the pressurized flow passage 32 is formed. At the frontend portion of the vessel main body 3, the front lid member 4 thatcovers the front end portion is attached. Here, FIG. 13 is a perspectiveview of the front lid member 4. At the front lid member 4, an openinggroove 41 that opens to the side of the vessel main body 3 is formedlong in the lateral direction. Further, at the bottom of the openinggroove 41, a step groove 42 that has a smaller opening area than theopening groove 41, is formed digging down long in the lateral direction.The opening groove 41 fits to the connecting section 39 of the vesselmain body 3, and at the periphery of the communicating hole 35 thatleads to the pressurized flow passage 32, as shown in FIG. 14, the frontend surface 37 of the vessel main body 3 is connected to the bottom ofthe vessel main body 3, and at the periphery of the communicating holes34, 34, . . . that lead to the liquid chambers 51, 51, . . . , the frontend surface 37 of the vessel main body 3 is separated from the bottom ofthe step groove 42. By the bottom of the step groove 42 being separatedfrom the front end surface 37 of the vessel main body 3, a communicatingchamber 43 which is an interior space defined by the step groove 42, ifformed. The wall surface of the communicating chamber 43 comprises thefront end surface 37 of the vessel main body 3 and the front lid member4, and the communicating chamber 43 leads to the plurality of liquidchambers 31, 31, . . . , via the communicating holes 34, 34, . . . .

At the position corresponding to the communicating hole 35 of the frontlid member 4, a flow-in opening 44 that leads from the bottom of theopening groove 41 to the front side outside portion, is formed, and theflow-in opening 44 and the communicating hole 35 leads thereto. In FIG.14, an area XIV around the flow-in opening 44 shown in FIG. 5, is shownexpanded. As shown in FIG. 14, a tubular flow-in nipple part 45 thatforms the flow-in opening is formed at the front lid member 4 so that isprotrudes towards the front outers side (left side in the drawing). Athird check valve 7 that permits the irreversible flow of liquid onlytowards the direction from the outside to the pressurized flow passage32 (direction from the left side to the right side in the drawing), viathe flow-in opening 44 and the communicating hole 35 is fit to theflow-in opening. The third check valve 7 is constituted in the same wayas the second check valve 6 shown in FIGS. 9 to 12. In the same way asthe second check valve 6, the third check valve 7 is a duckbill valveformed in a duckbill-shape by material that has flexibility andelasticity. The tip of the third check valve 7 is fit into the flow-inopening 44, from the outside towards the pressurized flow passage 32.The third check valve 7 is fixed by the flange part of the third checkvalve 7 being supported between the flange part of the valve stopper 46fit to the flow-in nipple part 45, and the tip of the flow-in nipplepart 45, in a state where the flange part of the third check valve 7(corresponding to 6 d in FIGS. 9 to 12) is locked to the tip of theflow-in nipple part 45.

As shown in FIG. 5, at a position a predetermined distance away from theflow-in opening 44, and being a pair side by side with flow-in opening44, a flow-out opening 47 that leads from the bottom of the step groove42 to the front outside part is formed. This flow-out opening leads tothe communicating chamber 43. A region XV around the flow-out opening 47shown in FIG. 5, is shown in FIG. 15. As shown in FIG. 15, a flow-outnipple part 48 that forms the flow-out opening 47 is formed at the frontlid member 4 so that it protrudes towards the front outer side. A firstcheck valve 8 which permits the flow of fluid only to the direction fromthe outside towards the communicating chamber 43, via the flow-outopening (direction from the left side towards the right side in thedrawing), is fit to the flow-out opening 47, in a situation where theinterstice is not opened by a later described suction tube 79 or aneedle, etc. The first check valve 8 is constituted in the same way asthe second check valve 6 shown in FIGS. 9 to 12. In the same way as thesecond check valve 6, the first check valve 8 is duckbill valve formedin a duckbill-shape by material that has flexibility and elasticity. Thetip of the first check valve 8 is fit into the flow-out opening 47, fromthe outside towards the communicating chamber 43. The first check valve8 is fixed by the flange part of the first check valve 8 being supportedbetween the flange part of a valve stopper 49 fit to the flow-out nipplepart 48, and the tip of the flow-out nipple part 48, in a state wherethe flange part of the first check valve 8 is locked to the tip of theflow-out nipple part 48.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 13, and 15, at a position in the communicatingchamber 43 and facing the flow-out opening 47 (i.e., the tip of thefirst check valve 8), an absorber 9 that absorbs liquid fuel 99 isplaced. The absorber 9 has a flexible spongy structure, and a pluralityof minute holes for absorbing the liquid fuel 99 are formed thereto. Theabsorber is structure so that when pressure is added from the outside ina state where the liquid fuel 99 is included, the liquid fuel 99absorbed to the inside oozes out to the outside. A sponge, non-wovenfabric, or fiber, etc., can be the absorber 9.

At the cylinder vessel 2 structured as above, an interior space ifformed by attaching the front lid member 4 and the back lid member 5 tothe vessel main body 3. The interior space is separated to the liquidchambers 31, 31, . . . , the pressurized flow passage 32, the pressureadjustment chamber 38, and the communicating chamber 43. The pressure bythe flow of the liquid from the flow-in opening 44 to the flow-outopening 47 is transferred in the order from the pressurized flow passage32, the pressure adjustment chamber 38, the liquid chambers 31, 31, . .. , and to the communicating chamber 43.

At the end of the liquid fuel 99, near the pressure adjustment chamber38 in each liquid chamber 31, a follower 10 that covers the liquid fuel99 and follows the end of the liquid fuel 99 is placed. The follower 10contacts the inner wall surface that forms the liquid chamber 31 (innerwall surface of the bulkhead 33 and the vessel main body 3), and by thefollower 10, the liquid chamber 31 is separated into an area at the sideof the communicating hole 34 and the opposite area at the side of thepressure adjustment chamber 38. Further, by the followers 10, 10, . . ., the interior space of the cylinder vessel 2 is separated into the areaof the side of the flow-out opening 47 and the area of the side of theflow-in opening 44. The follower 10 is a liquid that has a loweraffinity towards the liquid fuel 99, such as gel, sol, etc., and it isfurther preferable that it is a high viscosity fluid that has a higherviscosity than the liquid fuel 99, and is hardly soluble or insolubletowards the liquid fuel 99. Further, it is preferable that the follower10 has the behavior of a structural viscosity fluid (anomalous viscosityfluid) wherein the appearance stress decreases when the shear stress(shear speed) increases. Concretely, for example, mineral oil such asdimethyl silicone oil, methyl phenyl silicone oil, other silicon oil,and a combination thereof, may be used as the follower 10.

Of the interior space of the cylinder vessel 2, at the region of theside of the flow-out opening 47, separated by the followers 10, 10, . .. , namely at the area near the communicating chamber 43 of the liquidchambers 31, 31, . . . , and the communicating chamber 43, the liquidfuel 99 is filled. The liquid fuel 99 fills out from the flow-outopening 47, and when the volume of the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . .decrease, the back end surface moves from right to left in FIG. 5. Thefollower 10 that is coherent to the to the back end of the liquid fuel99 follows the back end surface of the liquid fuel 99, with the back endsurface of the liquid fuel 99 moving. Namely, because there is no spacein between the follower 10 and the liquid fuel 99, as long as the liquidfuel 99 is filled, in spite of the position of the fuel package 1, theliquid fuel 99 can be supplied to the flow-out opening 47 from theabsorber 9 that has the liquid fuel 99 absorbed, because thecommunicating chamber 43 is filled with the liquid fuel 99.

Next, the communicating interface that freely attaches/detaches the fuelpackage 1 to/from the power generation module 91, will be described.

FIGS. 16 to 18 are perspective views showing the communicatinginterface. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a situation where the fuelpackage 1 is detached from a chassis 60 of the power generation module91. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a situation where one fuel package 1 isattached to the chassis 60. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a situationwhere two fuel packages, 1, 1, are attached to the chassis 60.

Here, in the case of the power generation device shown in FIG. 1, a pump80, a vaporizer 92, a reformer 93, a carbon monoxide remover 94, and afuel cell 95 are embedded in the chassis 60, and in the case of thepower generation device shown in FIG. 2, a pump 80 and fuel cell 97 isembedded in the chassis 60. In a case where this power generation deviceis applied to an electronics device such as a portable telephone, alaptop computer, a digital camera, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance),or an electronic organizer, etc., the chassis 60 of the power generationmodule 91 may be integrally formed with the chassis of the main body ofthe electronics device, or the chassis 60 of the power generation module91 may be freely attachable to/detachable from the chassis of the mainbody of the electronics device.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 16 to 18, the communicating interface that thepower generation device includes, comprises a pair of plate-formsupporting parts 71, 71 that are formed at the chassis 60, and a pair ofelastic engaging section 72, 72 that are formed at the left and rightside surface portion of the vessel main body 3. The supporting parts 71,71 and the elastic engaging section 72, 72 are set so that they engagewith each other.

The supporting parts 71, 71 extend backwards from both the left end andthe right of a back end surface 60 a of the chassis 60. The supportingparts 71, 71 oppose each other left and right, and a storing space 73 isformed in between the supporting parts 71, 71. The storing space 73formed by the supporting parts 71, 71 is a space for storing the twocylinder vessels 2. In a case where the cylinder vessels 2 are stored inthe storing space 73, the front end surface of the cylinder vessels 2(namely, the front end surface of the front lid member 4) faces the backend surface 60 a of the chassis 60. Though the storing space 73 isformed by the supporting parts 71, 71 opposing each other left andright, and the upper part and the lower part of the storing space 73 isopen, the storing space 73 may be formed in a hole-shape which opensbehind the chassis 60, by covering the upper side and the lower side ofthe storing space 73. In that case, the back end surface 60 a becomesthe bottom of the hole-shape storing space 73.

At the surface which is the base end part of the side of the chassis 60of each supporting part 71, and which is the surface that opposes thesupporting part 71, two guide projections 74, 74 that extend long in thelongitudinal direction are formed projecting. The guide projections 74,74 are arranged one above the other.

At the tip side of each of the supporting part 71, two approximatelyrectangular locking holes 75, 75 that are long in the cross directionare formed so that they penetrate the supporting part 71 at a horizontaldirection. The locking holes 75 are arranged one above the other, and atthe supporting part 71, are a pair by front and back with the guideprojections 74, 74. Though the locking hole 75 penetrates the supportingpart 71 in a horizontal direction, it does not have to penetrate thesupporting part 71 in a case where the locking holes 75 are formed sothat they yield at the respective surfaces that oppose the pair of thesupporting parts 71, 71.

On the other hand, at both the left and right side surface of thecylinder 2, guiding target grooves 70, 70 that are long in the crossdirection, are formed throughout the front end of the front lid part 4to the center part of the vessel main body 3. The front end of theguiding target groove is open, and is structured so that the guideprojection 74 is inserted in/taken out longitudinally, from the frontend side of the guiding target groove 70, and so that the guideprojection 74 fits into the guiding target groove 70, being able toslide freely backwards and forwards. Therefore, the backward and forwarddirection of the power generation device becomes the inserting directionfor inserting the cylinder vessel 2 to the storing space 73. Thought theprojection 74 is formed at the supporting part 71, and the groove 70 isformed at the cylinder vessel 2, the groove that is long in the crossdirection, for guiding, may be formed to the supporting part 71, and theprojection that can be fit to the groove and can slide forwards andbackwards along the groove may be formed at the cylinder vessel 2.

Further behind the guiding target groove 70, the elastic engagingsection 72 is formed at the side surface center portion of the vesselmain body 3 so that it is branched, and at the side surface back side ofthe cylinder vessel 2, the elastic engaging section 72 is separated fromthe main vessel body 3 and the side surface of the back lid part 5.Including the elastic engaging section 72, the vessel main body 3 isformed by material that has flexibility, such as synthetic resin, etc.,(for example, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, epoxy resin, and polycarbonate, etc.). When the elastic engaging section 72 is pressed to theinward side of the cylinder vessel 2, the elastic engaging section 72yields to the side of the cylinder vessel 2, the base part being thefixed end, and when the pressing is relieved, the yield of the elasticengaging section 72 is also relieved.

At the outer surface of the elastic engaging section 72, which is theopposite side of the cylinder vessel 2, an engaging projection 76 thatcan be engaged to the locking hole 75, is formed. The engagingprojection 76 protrudes from the elastic engaging section 72 at thecross direction center portion of the elastic engaging section 72. Asshown in FIG. 5, the cross-section shape of the engaging projection 76is triangular. The engaging projection 76 is formed so that theprotruding height thereof becomes higher as it goes behind, in order tosmoothly attach the fuel package 1 to the chassis 60 of the powergeneration module 91, by sliding. When the front end surface of thecylinder vessel 2 contacts the back end surface 60 a of the chassis 60,in a state where the guide projection 74 of the supporting part 71 isfit to the guiding target groove 70 of the cylinder vessel 2, theengaging projection 76 fits into the engaging hole 75. Further, when thefront end surface of the cylinder 2 contacts the back end surface 60 aof the chassis 60, in a state where the guide projection 74 of thesupporting part 71 is fit to the guiding target groove 70 of thecylinder vessel 2, the back end portion of the elastic engaging section72 extends further behind the back end portion of the supporting part71.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, at the position which is the back endsurface 60 a of the chassis 60 and opposing the flow-in opening 44 ofeach of the cylinder vessels 2, two exhaust connection (interconnection)openings 77, 77 are formed, and at the position opposing the flow-outopening 47 of each of the cylinder vessels 2, two suction connection(interconnection) openings 78, 78 are formed. In FIGS. 16 and 17,because the exhaust connection opening 77 at the bottom side (left sidein the drawing) is hidden by the supporting part 71, the referencenumber thereof is omitted.

In the suction connection opening 78, a suction tube 79 that isconcentric with the suction connection opening 78 is provided. Thesuction tube 79 protrudes towards the backside from the suctionconnection opening 78.

In a case where the front end surface of the cylinder 2 contacts theback end surface 60 a of the chassis 60, in a state where the guideprojection 74 of the supporting part 71 is fit to the guiding targetgroove 70 of the cylinder vessel 2, the flow-in nipple part 45 isinserted to the exhaust connection opening 77 and the flow-out nipplepart 48 is inserted to the suction connection opening 78. When theflow-out nipple part 48 is inserted to the suction connection opening78, the suction tube 79 as the inserting target material, penetratesthrough the interior hollow of the first check valve 8 and theinterstice, to reach the absorber 9 at the interior of the cylindervessel 2.

At the interior of the chassis 60, a flow passage that leads from thesuction tube 79 to the exhaust connection opening 77, is formed, and thepump is formed therebetween. The liquid fuel 99 in the cylinder vessel 2is sucked by the pump 80.

Here, in the case of the power generation device shown in FIG. 1, at themiddle of the flow passage that leads from the suction tube 79 to theexhaust connection opening 77, the vaporizer 92, the reformer 93, thecarbon monoxide remover 94, and fuel cell 95 are arranged in this order,the liquid fuel 99 is supplied to the vaporizer 92 via the suction tube79, and other than water and carbon dioxide generated by the reformer93, the carbon monoxide remover 94, and the fuel cell 95, air flows intothe interior of the cylinder vessel 2 via the exhaust connection opening77 and the flow-in opening 44. In this case, it is preferable that theend of the suction tube 70 and the pump 80 are connected, and the flowpassage from the suction tube 79 to the exhaust connection opening 77 isa pathway of, suction tube 79 pump 80 vaporizer 92 reformer 93 carbonmonoxide remover 94 fuel cell 95 exhaust connection opening 77.

On the other hand, in the case of the power generation device shown inFIG. 2, the pump 80 and the fuel cell 97 are provided in this order inthe middle of the flow passage from the suction tube 79 to the exhaustconnection opening 77, the liquid fuel 99 is supplied to the pump 80 viathe suction tube 79, and other than water and carbon dioxide generatedat the fuel cell 97, air flows to the interior of the cylinder vessel 2,via the exhaust connection opening 77 and the flow-in opening 44. Theflow passage from the suction tube 79 to the exhaust connection opening77 may be a pathway of, suction tube 79 pump 80 fuel cell 97 exhaustconnection opening 77.

A the position which is the back end surface 60 a of the chassis 60, andopposes the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . , sensors 81, 81, . . . , fordetecting the position of each follower, are placed. The sensor 81comprises a light emitting element that emits light (mainly infraredray) towards the backside from the outside of the cylinder vessel 2, anda light receiving element (mainly shows the sensitivity towards theinfrared ray) that receives light from the back side at the back endsurface 60 a of the chassis 60 which is in front of the liquid chamber31. On the other hand, the liquid fuel 99 and the cylinder vessel 2,especially the front lid member 4 and the vessel main body 3 have thebehavior of transmitting the light that is generated from the sensor 81,and at the follower 10 in the cylinder vessel 2, a material with a highreflection rate towards the light generated from the sensor 81, (forexample, metal grain, etc.) is added. Namely, the optical property(reflection rate, transmission rate, etc.) of the follower 10 differsfrom the optical property of the liquid fuel 99. Here, in a case wherethe follower 10 is near the pressure adjustment chamber 38 of the liquidchamber 31, because the distance form the follower 10 to the sensor 81is long, the light emitted from the light emitting element is attenuatedby suction by the liquid fuel 99, etc., upon reaching the follower 10.Even if the light is reflected at the follower 10, because thereflection light is attenuated again by the liquid fuel 99, etc., on itsway back, a reflection light with low intensity is received by the lightreceiving element, and the follower is not detected by the sensor 81. Onthe other hand, in a case where the follower 10 is near thecommunicating hole 34 of the liquid chamber 31, because the distancefrom the follower 10 to the sensor 81 is short, the attenuating amountby the liquid fuel 99, etc., is less, and because the reflection lightwith a high intensity is received by the light receiving element, whenthe light generated by the light emitting element is reflected by thefollower 10, the sensor 81 can detect the follower 10. Namely, thesensor 81 detects whether the follower 10 is near the communicating hole34 of the liquid chamber 31, or near the pressure adjustment chamber 38of the liquid chamber 31, by the received light amount, and detects thedisplacement of the follower 10 at the longitudinal direction of theliquid chamber 31. Therefore, by detecting the position of the follower10, the sensor 81 can detect the length of the longitudinal direction ofthe liquid fuel 99 in the liquid chamber 31, consequently the volume ofthe liquid fuel 99, namely the remaining amount of liquid fuel 99. Thesensor may detect the position of the follower 10 in multi-steps inaccordance with the light amount, or may detect by two steps, whetherthe position of the follower 10 is near the communicating hole 34 of theliquid chamber 31, or not. Though the sensor 81 comprises a lightemitting element and a light receiving element, the remaining amount ofliquid fuel 99, or the possible operation time by the reaming amount ofliquid fuel 99 can be recognized from the screen of an electronicsdevice, by the light receiving element outputting an electric signal(voltage, current) based on the intensity of the irradiated reflectionlight, the power generation module 91 calculating a remaining amount offuel, or a possible operation time by the remaining fuel, and the powergeneration module 91 conveying the information to an electronics device,such as a portable telephone, etc. that is electrically driven.

Next, the way to use the power generation device structured in the aboveway, and the accompanying operations, will be described.

Even if the liquid fuel 99 is accumulated in the cylinder vessel 2, in astate where the fuel package 1 is not attached to the power generationmodule 91, the liquid fuel 99 does not leak out from the flow-outopening 47, because the first check valve 8 is closed.

The guide projections 74, 74, are fit into the guiding target grooves70, 70, the front end surface of the cylinder vessel 2 that has theliquid fuel 99 filled, being towards the back end surface 60 a of thechassis 60, the cylinder vessel 2 is pressed towards the chassis 60 atthe front side, and the cylinder vessel 2 is moved forward, by theguiding target grooves 70, 70, and the guide projections 74, 74. Whenthe cylinder vessel 2 is moved forward, the elastic engaging sections72, 72 elastically transform, by the engaging projections 76, 76contacting the back end of the supporting parts 71, 71, and pushing theengaging projections 76, 76, with the supporting parts 71, 71. Then,engaging projections 76, 76 reach the locking holes 75, 75, to lock theengaging projections 76, 76 to the locking holes 75, 75. Further, inaddition with inserting the flow-in nipple unit 45 to the exhaustconnection opening 77, the flow-out nipple unit 48 is inserted to thesuction connection opening 78, to contact the front end surface of thecylinder vessel 2 to the back end surface 60 a of the chassis 60. Theguiding target grooves 70, 70 may be provided at the power generationmodule 91, and the guide projections 74, 74 may be provided at the fuelpackage 1.

As the above, by just inserting the fuel package 1, by pressing forwardtowards the power generation module, in a state where the guiding targetgrooves 70, 70 and the guide projections 74, 74 are fit, the engagingprojections 76, 76 can be engaged to the locking holes 75, 75, theflow-in nipple part 45 can be inserted to the exhaust connection opening77, and the flow-out nipple part 48 can be inserted to the suctionconnection opening 78. In a state where the power generation module 91is attached to the fuel package 1, because at the front side of the fuelpackage 1, the flow-in nipple part 45 is inserted to the exhaustconnection opening 77, and the flow-out nipple part 48 is inserted tothe suction connection opening 78, and at the back side of the fuelpackage 1, he engaging projections 76, 76 are engaged with the lockingholes 75, 75, the attachment state of the power generation module 91 andthe fuel package 1 can be kept firm.

When the flow-out nipple part 48 is inserted to the suction connectionopening 78, the suction tube 79 protrudes the interior hollow of thefirst check valve 8 and the interstice 6 e, and reaches the absorber 9.When the absorber 9 is pressed by the suction tube 79, the liquid fuel99 absorbed by the absorber 9 oozes out from the absorber 9. The fuel 9that oozed out is supplied to the pump 80 via the suction tube 79. Here,because the fuel that oozes out from the absorber 9 rapidly fills theflow passage from the suction tube 79 to the pump 80, the oozed out fuelfunctions as pump-priming for lift ranging the level of the pump 80.Further, because the absorber 9 is in a sate in which it is compressedby the suction tube 79, by the negative pressure by the restorativeforce, the liquid fuel 99 in the cylinder 2 is absorbed by the absorber9, and the absorbed liquid fuel 99 oozes out to the suction tube 79.Therefore, the fuel can be stably transferred to by the pump 80. Even ifbubbles generate in the cylinder vessel 2, because the bubbles aretrapped in the absorber 9, the bubbles do not go into the suction tube79.

In a case where the pump 80 operates in a state where the flow-outopening 47 is connected to the suction connection opening 78, the liquidfuel 99 in the cylinder vessel 2 is absorbed to the pump 80 via thesuction tube 79, and the absorbed liquid fuel 99 is exhausted from thepump 80. When the liquid fuel 99 in the cylinder vessel 2 is absorbed,the liquid fuel 99 in the cylinder vessel 2 slowly decreases. However,in accordance with the decrease, shear stress occurs in the follower 10,and the viscosity rate declines, and accompanying the consumption of theliquid fuel 99, the follower 10 follows to the front side of the liquidchamber 31.

By the above operation of the pump 80, the liquid fuel 99 or a fluid inwhich the liquid fuel 99 is reformed, flows in the order of thevaporizer 92, the reformer 93, the carbon monoxide remover 94, and tothe fuel cell 95 (or in the order of the pump 80, to the fuel cell 97),to generate electric energy in the fuel cell 95 or the fuel cell 97. Theproduct generated by the liquid fuel 99 (mainly gas such as carbondioxide, etc.) is exhausted from the exhaust connection opening 77. Bythe pressure of the product exhausted from the exhaust connectionopening 77, the third check valve 7 opens. By this, the exhaustedproduct is exhausted to the pressurized flow passage 32 and the pressureadjustment chamber 38, the pressure in the pressurized flow passage 32and the pressure adjustment chamber 38 rises, and by the pressure, thefollowers 10, 10, . . . , are pushed to the front surface side of thecylinder vessel 2. The pressure that acts to the followers 10, 10, . . .from the side of the pressure adjustment chamber 38, aids the exhaustionof the liquid fuel 99 in the cylinder vessel 2, and lift ranging of theliquid fuel 99 from the interior of the cylinder vessel 2 towards thepump 80 is stably carried out. Therefore, the liquid fuel 99 can bestably transferred, by the pump 80. In a case where the pump 80 isstopped, the transfer of the liquid fuel 99 also stops, and thegeneration of electric energy in the fuel cell 97 and the generation ofthe by-product supplied to the pressurized flow passage 32 and thepressure adjustment chamber 38 also stops. In this way, by the pump 80stopping, the rise of the pressure from the pressure adjustment chamber38 to the follower 10 is stopped, the position of the liquid fuel 99 andthe follower 10 is kept even, and the shape of the follower 10 isretained. Therefore, even if the flow-out nipple part 48 of the fuelpackage 1 faces any direction, as long as the liquid fuel 99 is left,the liquid fuel 99 is filled in each communicating hole 34 and thecommunicating chamber 43 of the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . ,therefore, the liquid fuel 99 can be continuously supplied to the pump80, and because it is structured so that the supply of the bubbles tothe pump 80 is reduced as much as possible, the reduction of thesupplying ability of the liquid fuel 99 and the power generation rate ofthe fuel cell 95 can be controlled.

In a case where the pressure in the pressurized flow passage 32 and thepressure adjustment chamber 38 rises, and reaches a predeterminedpressure or higher than the predetermined pressure, the check valve 6opens, and the product in the pressurized flow passage 32 and thepressure adjustment chamber 38 is exhausted from the exhaust opening 54.By this, the pressure in the pressurized flow passage 32 and thepressure adjustment chamber 38 can be maintained at a pressure equal toor higher than a predetermined pressure.

By this, the cylinder vessel 2 breaking, due to the pressure in thepressurized flow passage 32 and the pressure adjustment chamber 38,becoming too high, can be prevented. Further, by the product in thepressure adjustment chamber 38 being exhausted to the outside from theexhaust opening 54, the pressure adjustment chamber 38 can be maintainedat an adequate pressure. Further, because the third check valve 7 isprovided at the fill-in opening 44, the product exhausted to thepressure adjustment 38 flowing back to the power generation module 91,via the flow-in opening 44 and the exhaust connection opening 77, can beprevented, and the pressure adjustment chamber 38 can be maintained atan adequate pressure. By maintaining the pressure in the pressureadjustment chamber 38 adequate, the liquid fuel 99 can be stablysupplied to the power generation module 91 via the suction tube 79.

An operation for measuring the remaining amount of the liquid fuel 99 bythe remaining fuel amount measuring device, will be described.

In a case where the liquid fuel 99 is left in the liquid chamber 31, thefollower 10 at the liquid chamber 31 is separated from the front sidewall surface of the liquid chamber 31, the reflection light amount fromthe follower 10 is less, and the receiving light amount at the sensor 81is also less. On the other hand, in a case where remaining amount of theliquid fuel 99 at the liquid chamber 31 is less, the follower 10 at theliquid chamber 31 is near the communicating hole 34 of the front sidewall surface of the liquid chamber 31, and the reflection light amountfrom the follower 10 is more, and the receiving light amount at thesensor 81 is also more. By this, remaining amount information of theliquid fuel 99 can be read by the sensor 81.

Even if the sensors 81, 81, are binary sensors, namely, binary sensorsthat detect whether the liquid fuel 99 is left in the liquid chamber 31,if it is set so that the time necessary to consume the liquid fuel 99 inthe liquid chamber 31 differs according to each liquid chamber 31, itcan be measured how much amount of liquid fuel 99 is left in thecylinder vessel 2.

Namely, as the above (A), in a case where the cross-section area of theinterior space of the liquid chamber 31 is respectively equal when everyliquid chamber 31 is cut perpendicularly in the longitudinal direction,the volume of the liquid fuel 99 in the liquid chamber 31 is the samefor each liquid chamber 31, before the consumption of the liquid fuel 99begins. However, because the opening area of the communicating holes 34differ according to each liquid chamber 31, the exhausted amount of theliquid fuel 99 that is exhausted from the liquid chamber 31, via thecommunicating hole 34, differs according to each liquid chamber 31.Therefore, the time necessary to consume the liquid fuel 99 in theliquid chamber 31 (namely, the time necessary for the follower 10 tomove from the front end to the back end of the liquid chamber 31),differs according to each liquid chamber 31. Therefore, because thesensors 81, 81, . . . do not detect the follower 10 at the same time,but the sensors 81, 81 detect the follower 10 sequentially, it can bedetected how much amount of liquid fuel 99 is left in the cylindervessel 2. Namely, in a case where every sensor 81, 81, . . . , has notdetected the follower 10, it means that the liquid fuel 99 in thecylinder vessel 2 is filled, and as the number of sensors 81 that detectthe follower 10 increases, the fuel in the cylinder vessel 2 isdecreasing, and in a case where every sensor 81, 81, . . . , detects thefollower 10, it means that the liquid fuel 99 in the cylinder vessel 2is empty.

As the above (B) or (C), in a case where the cross-section area of theinterior space of the liquid chamber 31 is respectively different whenevery liquid chamber 31 is cut perpendicularly in the longitudinaldirection, the volume of the liquid fuel 99 in the liquid chamber 31differs for each liquid chamber 31, before the consumption of liquidfuel 99 begins. However, because the opening area of the communicatingholes 34 are the same for every liquid chamber 31, the exhausted amountof the liquid fuel 99 that is exhausted from the liquid chamber 31, viathe communicating hole 34, is the same for each liquid chamber 31.Therefore, the time necessary to consume the liquid fuel 99 in theliquid chamber 31 (namely, the time necessary for the follower 10 tomove from the front end to the back end of the liquid chamber 31),differs according to each liquid chamber 31. Therefore, because thesensors 81, 81, . . . do not detect the follower 10 at the same time,but the sensors 81, 81 detect the follower 10 sequentially, it can bedetected how much amount of liquid fuel 99 is left in the cylindervessel 2.

Concrete descriptions will be made with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21, and22 to 24. FIGS. 19 to 21 are drawings for describing the operationconcerning a case where the cross-section area of the interior space ofthe liquid chamber 31 is respectively equal when every liquid chamber 31is cut perpendicularly in the longitudinal direction, the opening areaof the communicating hole 34, 34 becoming larger moving towards the leftside (lower side in the drawings). FIGS. 22 to 24 are drawings fordescribing the operation concerning a case where the opening area ofevery communicating hole 34 is equal, and the cross-section area of theinterior space of the liquid chamber 31 becomes larger moving to theright side (the upper side in the drawings) when the liquid chambers 31,31, . . . are cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. Tosimply the description, the number of the communicating holes 34 inFIGS. 19 to 21, and 22 to 24 are three. However, the number ofcommunicating holes 34 is not limited to three, and the same effect canbe obtained as long as the number of communicating holes 34 is plural.

As shown in FIG. 19, because in the initial state, the liquid fuel 99 isfilled approximately the same amount for each liquid chamber 31, 31, . .. , the position of each of the followers 10, 10, . . . , is separatedfrom the front end of the liquid chamber 31. However, as shown in FIG.20, because as the liquid fuel 99 is consumed, the liquid chamber 31with the communicating hole 34 that has a large opening area consumesmore fuel in the interior than the communicating holes 34 that have asmall opening area, a difference in position of the follower 10 from thesensor 81 generates, between the liquid chamber 31 that has a largeropening area and a liquid chamber 31 that has a small opening area.Then, the follower 10 at the most left liquid chamber 31 in thebeginning (down side in the drawing), is placed at the front end of theliquid chamber 31, for the sensor 81 to detect the reflection light fromthe follower 10. At the power generation module 91, when a detectionsignal is transmitted to a control circuit in the power generationmodule 91, the remaining amount in the fuel package 1 is specified bythe signal, and a remaining amount signal is output to an electronicsdevice that is driven by the electric energy output from the powergeneration module 91. In the state such as shown in FIG. 20, theremaining amount of liquid fuel 99 is approximately middle the remainingamount at the initial state and when the liquid fuel 99 is empty.Further, as the liquid fuel 99 is consumed, as shown in FIG. 21, thefollower 10, which is placed at the center (middle level in thedrawing), that has the opening area of the communicating 34, at themiddle liquid chamber 31, moves to the front end of the liquid chamber31, and the sensor 81 detects the middle follower 10 and outputs aremaining amount signal to the electronics device. The reaming amount ofliquid fuel 99 at this time is less than the time shown in FIG. 20.Then, the follower 10, which is placed at the most right (upper side inthe drawing), in the liquid chamber 31 with the smallest opening area,moves to the front end of the liquid chamber 31, and the sensor 81detects the middle follower 10 and outputs an information signalindicating information that the reaming amount is scarce, to theelectronics device.

As shown in FIG. 22, because in the initial state, the liquid fuel 99 isfilled approximately the same amount for each liquid chamber 31, 31, . .. , the position of each of the followers 10, 10, . . . , is separatedfrom the front end of the liquid chamber 31. However, as shown in FIG.23, because as the liquid fuel 99 is consumed, the liquid chamber withthe communicating hole 34 that has a large opening area consumes morefuel in the interior than the communicating holes 34 that have a smallopening area, a difference in position of the follower 10 from thesensor 81 generates, between the liquid chamber 31 that has a largeropening and a liquid chamber 31 that has a small opening area, and thefollower 10 at the most left liquid chamber 31 (lower side in thedrawing) in the beginning, is positioned at the front end of the liquidchamber 31, for the sensor 81 to detect the reflection light from thefollower 10. At the power generation module 91, when a detection signalis transmitted to a control circuit in the power generation module 91,the remaining amount in the fuel package 1 is specified by the signal,and a remaining amount signal is output to an electronics device that isdriven by the electric energy output from the power generation module91. In the state such as shown in FIG. 23, the remaining amount ofliquid fuel 99 is approximately middle the remaining amount at theinitial state and when the liquid fuel 99 is empty. Further, as theliquid fuel 99 is consumed, as shown in FIG. 24, the follower 10, whichis placed at the center (middle level in the drawing), that has theopening area of the communicating 34, at the middle liquid chamber 31,moves to the front end of the liquid chamber 31, and the sensor 81detects the middle follower 10 and outputs a remaining amount signal tothe electronics device. The reaming amount of liquid fuel 99 at thistime is less than the time shown in FIG. 23. Then, the follower 10,which is placed at the most right (upper side in the drawing), in theliquid chamber 31 with the interior space that has the largestcross-section area, moves to the front end of the liquid chamber 31, andthe sensor 81 detects the middle follower 10 and outputs an informationsignal indicating information that the reaming amount is scarce, to theelectronics device.

As the above, accompanying the consumption of fuel in the liquidchambers 31, 31, . . . , as the material of liquid fuel 99 in eachchamber 31 sequentially becomes empty, or becomes close to empty, thesensors 81, 81, that correspond to each liquid chamber 31 sequentiallydetects the reflection light from the follower 10, to detect inmulti-steps, how much amount of liquid fuel 99 is left in the cylindervessel 2. The area of the communicating holes 34, 34, and thecross-section area of the interior space of the liquid chambers 31, 31,. . . , may be set so that, for example, the total amount of liquid fuel99 in the fuel package 1, is 50% in a case where the sensor 81 in thefirst liquid chamber 31 detects enough light, and the total amount ofliquid fuel 99 in the fuel package 1, is 25%, in a case where the sensor81 in the second liquid chamber 31 detects enough light.

In the above fuel package 1, the length of the liquid chambers 31, 31, .. . , in the longitudinal direction are all equal, and the cross-sectionarea of the interior space, when each liquid chamber 31 is cutperpendicularly in the longitudinal direction, is constant from thefront end side to the back end side. However, it is not limited to this,and by differing the anteroposterior length of the of the liquidchambers 31, 31, . . . , the volume in which the liquid fuel 99 in theliquid chambers 31, 31, . . . , is filled, may be respectively differed.In this case, the cross-section area of the interior space when theliquid chambers 31, 31, . . . , are cut perpendicularly in thelongitudinal direction, may be respective the same or different, and theopening area of the communicating holes 34, 34, . . . , may berespectively the same or different.

The detachment of the fuel package 1 will be described.

In a case where the liquid fuel 99 in the cylinder vessel 2 becomesempty or becomes close to empty, the fuel package is changed to a newfuel package 1. At the time of exchange, the fuel package 1 that isalready attached is detached. Here, in a case where fuel package 1 isattached to the power generation module 91, because the back ends 61,61, of the elastic engaging sections 72, 72, extend backwards than theback ends 62, 62, of the supporting parts 71, 71, the back ends of theelastic engaging sections 72, 72, can be brought close together so as tosandwich the back ends, without receiving interference from thesupporting parts 71, 71. In a case where the back ends of the elasticengaging sections 72, 72 area brought close together and sandwiched, theelastic engaging sections 72, 72, elastically transform, and theengaging projections 76, 76 are detached from the locking holes 75. Inthat state, in a case where the fuel package 1 is pulled out backwardsfrom the power generation module 91, the fuel package 1 can be detachedfrom the power generation module 91.

As the above, because it is structured so that a communicating hole 35is provided, and gas such as carbon dioxide, etc., as the by-product,flows into the liquid chamber 31 from the communicating hole 35, so asto prevent the pressure in the liquid chamber 31 from decreasing,accompanying the amount of liquid fuel 99 that decreases when the liquidfuel 99 accumulated in the cylinder vessel 2 of the fuel package 1 flowsout from the communicating hole 34, the pressure in the liquid chamber31 can be maintained equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure,in spite of the liquid fuel 99 flowing out. Therefore, it becomes easierfor the follower 10 to follow to the back end surface of the liquidfuel, and an air gap is unlikely to generate in the interior spacebetween the follower 10 and the communicating chamber 43, especially inbetween the follower 10 and the liquid fuel 99, and the interior of thecommunicating chamber 43. Therefore, even if the position of the fuelpackage 1 is changed, because the communicating chamber 43 of the fuelpackage 1 is always filled with the liquid fuel 99, the liquid fuel 99can be stably supplied.

In a case where electric energy by the power generation device of thepresent invention provided at the interior of the electronics device isnecessary, or in a case where the charging amount of the charging unitof the power generation module 91 is not enough, the liquid fuel 99 issupplied to the power generation module 91 from the fuel package 1, ifthe pump 80 is operated. In a case where electric energy by the powergeneration device of the present invention provided at the interior ofthe electronics device is not necessary, or in a case where the chargingamount of the charging unit of the power generation module 91 is enough,if the control circuit stops the operation of the pump 80, and heatingto the vaporizer 92, the reformer 93, and the carbon monoxide remover94, electric energy is not generated, because supply of the liquid fuel99 and chemical reaction stop.

Because the liquid fuel 99 is supplied by the pump 80, the time that ittakes for the liquid fuel 99 to reach the fuel cell 95 or the fuel cell97 of the power generation module 91, after attaching the fuel package 1to the power generation module 91, is shorter compared to a case wherethe liquid fuel 99 is supplied by capillary force.

Also, because the liquid fuel 99 is supplied to the power generationmodule 91 from the fuel package 1, by the suction force of the pressureadjustment chamber 38 and the pump 80, in a situation where the liquidfuel 99 is filled to the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . separated by thefollowers 10, 10, . . . , and the communicating chamber 43, the liquidfuel 99 can be stably supplied.

By providing the communicating chamber 43, the fuel 99 flows out fromeach liquid chamber 31, using a single flow-out nipple part 48, a singlefirst check valve 8, and a single absorber 9. However, it is not limitedto this, and can be structured so that the fuel 99 flows outindependently, by providing a flow-out nipple part 48, a single firstcheck valve 8, and a single absorber 9, to each of the liquid chambers31. Accompanying this, the power generation module 91 may match thenumber and position of the suction connection opening 78 and the suctiontube 79 with the number of the liquid chambers 31, 31, . . . , and theposition of the flow-out nipple part 48. At this time, there may be ormay not be a communicating chamber 43.

Because a pump 80 is provided at the power generation module 91, it isnot necessary to provide a pump at the fuel package 1, therefore, themanufacturing cost of the fuel package 1 can be reduced. Further, evenin the case where the fuel package 1 becomes empty, and a new fuelpackage 1 is attached to the power generation module 91, the pumpprovided at the power generation module 91 can be used for supplying thefuel 99 of the new fuel package 1.

Also, of the two regions of the liquid chamber 31 separated by thefollower 10, because the liquid fuel 99 is filled to the region at theside of the communicating hole 34, the follower 10 is detected by thesensor 81 only when the liquid fuel 99 is consumed from the liquidchamber 31. Namely, as long as the liquid fuel 99 is filled to theregion of the side of the communicating hole 34 of the liquid chamber31, the follower 10 is not detected by the sensor 81, no matter whatposition the cylinder vessel 2 is in. On the contrary, when the liquidfuel 99 is consumed from the region of the side of the communicatinghole 34 of the liquid chamber 31, the follower 10 is placed near thecommunicating hole 34, and the follower 10 is detected by the sensor 81.Therefore, the remaining amount of the liquid fuel 99 in the cylindervessel 2 can be measured, despite the position of the cylinder vessel 2.

Because the sensors 81, 81, . . . , are provided at the power generationmodule 91, and not at the cylinder vessel 2, the manufacturing cost ofthe fuel package 1 can be reduced. Further, even in a case where thedisposable cylinder vessel 2 becomes empty, and a new fuel package isattached to the power generation module 91, the same sensors 81, 81, . .. , provided at the power generation module 91 can be used for detectingthe followers 10, 10, . . . at the new fuel package 1. Also, becausematerial of a high reflection rate towards the light emitted from thelight emitting element of the sensor 81 is added to the follower 10, thefollower 10 can be detected more easily by the receiving light elementof the sensor 81.

Various embodiments and changes may be made thereunto without departingfrom the broad spirit and scope of the invention. The above-describedembodiment is intended to illustrate the present invention, not to limitthe scope of the present invention. The scope of the present inventionis shown by the attached claims rather than the embodiment. Variousmodifications made within the meaning of an equivalent of the claims ofthe invention and within the claims are to be regarded to be in thescope of the present invention.

1. A fuel package comprising: a vessel having an interior space, and aflow-out opening and a flow-in opening that lead to said interior space;a liquid fuel filled in a region of the interior space at a side of theflow-out opening in the vessel; and a follower that separates the liquidfuel from a region of the interior space at a side of the flow-inopening, wherein the follower is a high viscosity fluid that has ahigher viscosity than the liquid fuel.
 2. The fuel package according toclaim 1, wherein a first check valve is provided at said flow-outopening for preventing the liquid fuel from flowing out from the regionat the side of the flow-out opening in the vessel, towards outside ofthe vessel, and wherein said first check valve opens when an insertingtarget member is inserted therein, to allow flow-out of the liquid fuel.3. The fuel package according to claim 1, further comprising: anabsorber that can absorb the liquid fuel, in a region at the side of theflow-out opening in the vessel.
 4. The fuel package according to claim1, further comprising: a second exhaust opening that leads from theregion at the side of the flow-in opening in said vessel to the outsideof the vessel.
 5. The fuel package according to claim 4, furthercomprising: a second check valve that irreversibly exhausts fluid in theregion at the side of the flow-in opening in the vessel from the secondexhaust opening, when the pressure of the region at the side of theflow-in opening in the vessel reaches a predetermined pressure.
 6. Thefuel package according to claim 1, wherein a power generation modulegenerates electric energy using the liquid fuel supplied from the fuelpackage, and wherein the fuel package further comprises a third checkvalve which irreversibly exhausts a part of a product generated at thepower generation module from the liquid fuel by chemical reaction, tooutside of the power generation module.
 7. The fuel package according toclaim 1, wherein said interior space comprises a first liquid chamberand a second liquid chamber that respectively have the liquid fuelfilled independently.
 8. The fuel package according to claim 7, whereinsaid first liquid chamber has a larger volume of the liquid fuel filledtherein than said second liquid chamber.
 9. The fuel package accordingto claim 7, wherein said first liquid chamber comprises a first flow-outopening, and said second liquid chamber comprises a second flow-outopening that has a larger opening area than the first flow-out opening.10. The fuel package according to claim 7, wherein said first liquidchamber is longer than the second liquid chamber in a longitudinaldirection.
 11. The fuel package according to claim 7, wherein the firstliquid chamber and the second liquid chamber have the same length in alongitudinal direction.